Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi/HILTON OTENYO
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged opposition leaders to stop interfering with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying its independence must be respected ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Kisumu, Mudavadi said recent criticism of the electoral commission risked undermining public confidence in the institution and its commissioners.
He said attacks on the IEBC could also affect public trust in the outcome of the August 2027 election.
“Maintaining the integrity and public trust of the IEBC is critical for ensuring stable democratic processes and peaceful transitions of power. When the opposition attacks the referee, it seems they are not ready to get into the field,” Mudavadi said.
He cited recent by-elections conducted under the leadership of IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon as evidence that the commission was capable of overseeing free, fair and credible polls.
Mudavadi also questioned the opposition's response to the Ol Kalou by-election, saying its position towards the IEBC appeared to have changed after the polls.
“When the opposition won the Ol Kalou seat, they praised the IEBC, but a few weeks later they are out discrediting the same commission. What has changed all over a sudden?” he said.
Mudavadi said political parties should allow the commission to make internal decisions within the framework of the Constitution and the law.
“The opposition should stop dictating to the IEBC. Whatever decisions the commission makes are internal and guided by both the Constitution and law,” he said.
He also defended the commission's deployment of officers, saying all voters should be treated equally regardless of where they live.
“Kenya is one, and all voters have a right to vote freely without any discrimination. All Kenyans should be served equally by this commission to exercise their democratic right,” Mudavadi said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary spoke on Saturday at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu during a consultative meeting with Western Kenya UDA aspirants from Kakamega and Vihiga counties.
The meeting focused on strengthening the party at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 election.
Mudavadi said political actors must respect the independence of the IEBC as the country prepares for party nominations and the General Election.
“We have seen politicians attacking the IEBC for fear of compliance. They know that soon they will be a target for compliance with the electoral regulations ahead of the party nominations slated for early next year,” he said.
He said UDA would field candidates at all levels, from president to members of county assemblies, in the 2027 election.
Mudavadi said the party remained strong under the broad-based arrangement and was working to expand its grassroots support.
He also called for increased voter registration in Western Kenya, saying the region's numbers were below the targets set ahead of the closure of the exercise.
“We have to come out as a people and encourage voter registration across all the counties. Our numbers are not looking good, and we are ranked as a vote-rich region within the electoral framework,” he said.
Mudavadi said the party was working to secure President William Ruto's re-election, while calling for a peaceful, free and fair election.
UDA aspirants from Kakamega and Vihiga counties attending a meeting at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Saturday/IMAGE/HILTON OTENYO
